"We always knew he’d be late first-round or a second-round draft choice," said Muhammad Oliver, Isaiah's father. "What matters is that at the end of his career: 'Who’s the best cornerback?' And I believe my son will be. He was, what, the eighth cornerback chosen in the draft? That is just something else for him to prove himself.’

The former Arizona high school standout had two interceptions and 26 tackles in 10 games as a junior for the Buffaloes in 2017, leading to a first-team All-Pac-12 selection. Oliver (6-1, 195) was just the ninth CU player to leave school early for the NFL draft.

Oliver made huge gains from his junior to his senior year in high school, according to his Brophy Prep coach, Scooter Molander.

"As a junior he was a very good player," Molander said. "He was probably, I don't know, 5-11, 165 pounds. Then he grew two inches, and made a serious commitment to the weight room before his senior year.

"It was the finest single year of a football player that I've ever had been around in one year in all three stages (offense, defense, special teams). He set the all-time records for receiving yards and touchdowns on offense. He had seven interceptions and six blocked kicks.

"In 2014 we went to the semifinals and lost to Hamilton in a good game. He had a very good work ethic, never missed a practice; super coachable. He never celebrated about himself but with his teammates. He was just scratching the surface of what was to come."

Molander said one high school defensive play, in which Oliver jumped "about 10 feet in the air) and made a one-handed interception, stood out.